The issue of the imprisonment of children by Israel is raised before the European Commission
Press release of the Office of AKEL MEP N. Sylikiotis, 16TH March 2017
“The EU’s High Representative doesn’t have means to force the Israeli authorities to immediately release all the Palestinian children or to demand that all their fundamental rights are implemented, but the EU is systematically calling on Israel to respect human rights recalling the obligations it has according to International Law and International Humanitarian Law, including as regards, inter alia, the rights of children”. This is what AKEL Member of the European Parliament and President of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Palestine Neoklis Sylikiotis stressed in his reply to the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.
We recall that N. Sylikiotis had raised before the Commission the issue of the illegal detention of thousands of Palestinian children who are victims of terrible torture on a daily basis carried out by the Israeli authorities. The AKEL MEP made particular reference to the violation of basic rights of children, denouncing the fact that they are deprived of the necessary medical care and that they are forbidden to communicate with their families and legal advice.
In his question N. Sylikiotis urged Mrs. Mogkerini to reply whether she intends to condemn the inhuman Israeli practices being committed against children. Furthermore, he asked what actions will the EU take towards the Israeli authorities for the immediate release of all Palestinian children and respect their human rights.
Unfortunately, in reply her reply the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini simply said that the EU will continue to regularly raise its concerns with the Israeli authorities on the arrest and detention of Palestinian children, both within the framework of established fora of bilateral dialogue, as well as during ad hoc meetings.
It should be pointed out that N. Sylikiotis had tabled for discussion this serious issue of the illegal imprisonment of Palestinian children by the Israeli occupation authorities and that the issue is scheduled to be discussed at the forthcoming plenary session of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Palestine.
